Engine-starting apparatus



Patented Aug. 3, 1926 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE' W. ELSEY, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL MOTORS COB- PORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ENGINE-STARTING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 28, 1924. Serial 110. 728,584.

The present invention relates to electrical starting apparatus for internal-combustion engines, and more particularly to the type of apparatus which includes an electric motor and connections between the motor and the engine which comprise a pinion adapted to be moved into engagement with a ear connezted with the engine to be starte These connections include also means whereby the pinion will be automatically disconnected fro the engine gear when the engine becomes self-operative. This typeof apparatus includes a manually operable actuator such as a pedal for moving the pinioninto mesh with the engine gear and for closing the switch for rendering the motor operative. Means are provided for automatically disconnecting the pedal from the pinion so that automatic demeshment of the pinion from the engine gear may take place regard less of failure to release the pedal.

The objects of invention include improvements in the means for automatically disconnectin the pedal from the pinion, these improvem nts being made for the purpose of securing a more compact structure and for reducing the cost of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the, present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention. is clearly shown.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings are fragmentary side elevations, partly in section, of a form of starting apparatus embodying the present invention, Fig. 1 showingthe apparatus in normal condition and Fig 2 showing the apparatus in position for cranking the engine. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings: The engine to be started is represented by flywheel gear 20, adapted to be engaged by a pinion 21 which is threadedly connected with spiral splines 22 provided on the armature shaft 23 of a motor 24. Motor 24 includes a field frame 25 attached to a housing 26which provides a bearing 27 for the shaft 23. The left end of the shaft 23 is supported by the frame 25 by an end frame (not shown).

The pinion 21 is provided with a hub 30 having flanges 31 and 32, which define a groove 33, adapted to receive the ends 34 of pinion-,shifting-lever arms 35 which are connected by a yoke 36. The arms 35 are pivoted upon a rod 37 supported by ears 38 provided by the housing 26. The yoke 36 is provided with an opening 39 for receiving a latch pawl 40 having a hook 41 adapted to engage the yoke 36. The pawl 40 is pivoted upon a stud 42 which connects the branches 43 of a bifurcated lever 44. The branches 43 are pivoted upon the rod 37. The lever 44 is connected by spring 45 with a pedal-operated lever 46 having bifurcations 47 also journaled upon the rod 37. Lever 46 is operated by apedal 48 connected with lever 46 by a .rod 49. The rod 49 extends through a cup-shaped member 50 attached to the floor board 51 of an'automobile. -A spring 52 located between the pedal 48 and the member 50, maintains the lever 46 in the position shown in Fig. 1. The spring 45 normally maintains the lever 44 as shown in Fig. 1, by maintaining the lever 44 against the crotch of lever 46.

The hub 30 is maintained against a stop collar 55 surrounding the shaft 23, by the use of a spring 56 which surrounds the rod 37 and bears at the end 57 against the lever yoke 36, and bears at the end 58 against the field frame 25.

The latch pawl 40 is normally biased for counterclockwise rotation and for latching engagement with the lever yoke 36 by a spring 60 having an end. 61 extending throiigh a hole 62 in the pawl 40. The spring 60 extends over the rod 37 and between the forks 43 of lever 44. Its upper end 63 is attached by a screw 64' to the housing 26.

The motor 24 is controlled by a switch including a case 71 attached by a screw 72 to the frame 25. The case 71 incloses a movable Contact actuated by a plunger 73 into engagement with two stationary contacts, one of which is connected with the field circuit of the motor, and the other of which is connected with the terminal 74 for connecting the motor with the current source. A spring 75 maintains the plunger 73 in switch-open position.

Endwise movement of the pinion 21 into engagement with the gear 20 is limited by a stop collar attached to the shaft 23. A

thrust washer 81 is located between the collar 80 and a plane bearing surface provided by the housing 26.

The operation of the invention is as follows: To start the engine, the pedal 48 is depressed, causing the lever 46 to move downwardly and the pinion 21 to move toward the gear 20. If the pinion meshes with the gear 20 without the pinion teeth first striking the ends of the gear teeth, the switch 70 will be closed after the pinion 21 has been partially meshed with the gear 20. When the switch 70 is closed, the motor will operate to thread the pinion 21 against the stop 80, and thereafter the motor will crank the engine.

During the movement of pinion 21 into full engagement with gear 20, the spring 60 which 18 normally biased to produce counterclockwise rotation -of the latch 40, will become biased to tend to produce clock wise rotation of latch 40, but the latch will not be released while pedal-transmitted pressure alone is forcing the pinion 21 into engagement with the gear 20. As apparent from the drawings, pressure from the pedal 48 is transmitted to the levers 35 by reason of engagement of the hook 41 of latch with the lever yoke 36. The engaging surfaces of the hook 41 and yoke 36 are so related that the latch 40 will remain in latched engagement with the yoke 36 while the pinion 21 is being pressed into engagement with the gear 20 by pedal operation alone. After the motor starts and threads the pinion 21 into full engagement with the gear 20, the pressure at the engaging surfaces of latch hook 41 and lever yoke 36 will be relieved. Then the spring will be biased to produce clockwise rotation of latch 40 and thus unlatching pedal 48 from the pinion-shifting lever 35. This condition is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

When the engine becomes self-operative, the pinion 21 will be automatically demeshed from the engine gear due to the spiral-spline connection between the motor and the engine, and the superior rotation of the engine gear 20 with respect to the motor gear 21, after the engine becomes self-operative. This automatic demeshment is possible since the pedal 48 has been unlatched from the lever 35, thereby permitting the lever 35 to move into the position indicated by dot-and-dash lines 35 in Fig. 2. The spring 56 tends to hold the pinion 21 in normal position, with its hub 30 hearing against the stop 55.

The yielding connection between levers 44 and 46, provided by the s ring 45, allows the pedal 48 to move the lever 46 sufficiently to close the motor switch 70, in case movement of the lever 35 is arrested by the abuttin of the teeth of pinion 21 with the ends at teeth of gear 20. In case this occurs, the spring 45 will be additionally stressed by movement of the lever 46 relative to the lever 44, so that energy will be stored in the spring 45. The closing of the switch causes the shaft 22 to be rotated to bring the pinion teeth into registration with the tooth spaces of gear 20. When this occurs, the spring 45 will be released to cause the levers 44 and 35 to rotate counterclockwise and the pinion 21. to move to the right quickly into mesh with the gear 20.

When the pedal 48 is released, the spring 52 will return levers 44 and 46 to normal position shown in Fig. 1. The end of latch 40 will move through the opening 39 in the yoke 36 and will return to latching position shown in Fig. 1. During the return of latch 40 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 1, the spring 60 will be returned to its normal condition wherein it is biased, to tend to produce counterclockwise rotation of the latch 40. Obviously at some position of the spring (30 between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spring will return to natural condition, tending to produce no rotation of the latch 40 in either direction. The spring 52 is strong enough to move the spring 60 out of its natural position with respect to the housing 26, so that the spring (50 tends to pull to the right upon the latch 40.

In case the engine should fail to start after the pinion 21 has been meshed with the gear 20, thereby preventing disengagement of the pinion from the gear except by manual operation, the pedal 48 is released and the spring 52 will cause the lever 46 to move sufficiently to allow the spring to open the motor switch. This motion of lever 46 may take place since there is sufficientclearance between the latch 40 and the lever yoke 36, as shown in Fig. 2.

lVhile the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

lVhat is claimed is as follows:

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; connections between the motor and engine including a pinion adapted to engage a gear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes self-operative; a manually operated member; a pinion-shifting member; a latch normally connecting said members; and a spring normally biasing the latch into connecting position, but conditioned for biasing the latch into non-connecting position during the movement of the pinion into engagement with the gear.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; connections between the motor and engine including a pinion adapted to engage agear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes self-operative; a manually operated member; a pinion-shifting member; a latch normally connecting said members; and a spring normally iasing the latch to remain in connecting position, but conditioned in response to movement of the manually operated member, for biasing the latch into nonconnecting position during the movement of the pinion into engagement with the gear.

3. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; connections between the motor and engine including a pinion adapted to engage a gear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes self-operative; a manuallyjoperated member; a pinion-shifting member; a latch normally connecting said members; and a spring connected with the latch and with a stationary part and normally conditioned to bias the latch into connecting position, the movement of the latch during movement of the pinion into mesh with the gear causing the spring to be conditioned to bias the latch into non-connecting position.

4. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; connections between the motor and engine including a pinion adilpted to engage a gear connected with an e gine to be started, and means whereby t e pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes self-operative; a edal; a pedaloperated lever; a pinion-s ifting lever; a latch connected with one lever and detachably connected with the other; and a spring connected with the latch and conditioned normally for biasing the latch into connecting position, said spring being conditioned by movement of the latch during movement of the pinion into mesh withthe gear, to bias the latch into non-connecting position.

Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; connections between the motor and engine including a pinion adapted to engage a gear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes self-operative; a pedal; a pedal operated lever; a forked pinion-shifting lever including a yoke; a latch pivotally connected with the first lever, the yoke of the second lever adapted to be engaged by the latch; and a spring connected wlth the latch and conditioned normally for biasing the latch into connecting position, said spring being conditioned by movement of the latch during movement of the pinion into mesh with the gear, to bias the latch into non-connecting position. i

6. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; connections between the motor and engine including a pinion adapted to engage a gear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes self-operative; a pedal; a pedaloperated lever; a forked pinion-shifting lever pivoted concentrically with respect to the first lever and having an apertured yoke; a latch located in the path of movement of the yoke and having a hook adapted to move through the lever engage the lever yoke; and a spring normally permitting the latch to engage the yoke, said spring being conditioned by movement of the latch, during movement of the pinion into mesh with the gear, to bias the latch into disconnection from the lever yoke.

7. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; connections between the motor and engine including a pinion adapted to engage a gear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes self-operative; a pedal; a lever connected with the pedal; a lever connected with the pinion; means for connecting the two levers, including a yieldable connection and alatching device; and means for automatically unlatching said levers after the pinion has meshed with the gear.

8. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; connections between the motor and engine including a pinion adapted to engage a gear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes self-operative; a pedal; three levers having a common fulcrum, one being connected with the pedal, and another with the pinion; a yieldlng connection between the third or intermediate lever and one ofthe first two levers; a latched connection between the third or intermediate lex er and the other of the first two levers; and means for automatically unlatching the other of the first two levers from the intermediate lever after the pinion has meshed with the gear. 9. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; connections between the motor and engine including a pin ion adapted to engage a gear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes selfoperative; a pedal; a lever connected thereyoke opening and I with; a second lever for shifting the pinion; a third or inter iediate lever; a spring connecting the third and first levers; a latch connecting the second and third levers; and means for automatically unlatching the second and third levers after the pinion has mes'hed with the gear.

10. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor including a frame and an armature shaft, one end of which is journalled in said frame; a gear housing secured to the frame and providing a hearing for the other end of the armature shaft; connections between the armature shaft and engine,v including a pinion on said shaft adapted to engage a gear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes self, operative; a pedal; a pedal operated lever pivot-ally carried by the gear housing; a pinion shifting lever in said housing, and pivoted coaxially with the pedal operated lever; means for connecting the two levers including a yield-able connection and a latching device within said housing; and means supported by and extending into said housing, for automatically unlatching said levers after the pinion has meshed with the gear,

11, Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a mot-or including a frame and an armature shaft, one end of which is journalled in said frame; a gear housing secured to the frame and providing a hearing for the other end of the armature shaft; connections between the armature shaft and engine, including a pinion on said shaft adapted to engage a gear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes selfoperative; a pedal; three levers coaxially pivoted in the housing, one being connected to the pedal, and a second having a yoke connection with the pinion; a yielding connection between the third and one of the first two levers; a latched connection within said housing for detachably connecting the thirdlever and the other of the first two levers; and means secured to said housing, and extending thereinto, for automatically operating thelatched connection to detach the third lever from the other of the first two levers after the pinion has meshedwith the gear,

12. Engine starting apparatus comprising,

in combination, a motor including a frame and an armature shaft, one end of which is journalled in said frame; a gear housing secured to the frame and providing a bearing for the other end of the armature shaft; connections between the armature shaft and engine, including a pinion on said shaft adapted to engage a gear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes selfoperative; a pedal; a lever connected therewith. and pivoted to the housing-g a second lever for shifting the pinion and-coaxially pivoted with the first lever; a third or intermediate lever pivoted coaxially with the other two levers; a spring for holding the second lever in normal pinion demeshing position; a spring connecting the first and intermediate levers; a latch adapted to connect the second or pinion shifting lever and the intermediate lever; and a spring supported by the housing and having its free end hooked into the latch, said spring being so constructed and arranged as to urge the latch into pinion shifting lever engaging position until said lever reaches its pinion meshing position after which said spring will urge the latch toward a position for disengaging the second lever. 13. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor including a frame and an armature shaft, one end of which is journalled in said frame; a gear housing secured to the frame and providing a hearing for the other end of the armature shaft; connections between the armature shaft and engine, including a pinion on said shaft adapted to engage a gear connected with an engine to be started, and means whereby the pinion may be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine becomes self operative; a rod supported by the housing; a pedal operated lever fulcrumed on said rod, and extending into the housing; a pinion shifting lever also fulcrumed on the rod and also extending into the housing; a latch pivotally connected with the pedal operated ever and located between the armature shaft and' the saidrod; and a spring connected at one end with the frame and at the other end with. the latch ata point between the axis of the latch and the armature shaft.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature GEORGE W. ELSEY. 

